Week 50

It's been an interesting, trying week. Every week has different experiences to learn from, right?

We have no water. WHY does this always happen to me? hahaha.  :(   SERIOUSLY-- every single area! We had to take a bath in our neighbor’s house. All four of us at 5 in the morning. (The water is extremely freezing here, btw.) I guess the pump is broken in our whole barangay. It's definitely an experience I won't forget. I guess I'm camping for the last 6 months of my mission life! :)

I had the chance to go to Tayabas for Exchanges with my wonderful Sister Training Leader, Sister Reed! I loved it. We start studying, and there's this huge rain and wind that starts coming upon us. We kept studying and had lunch and hoped that the rain would go away... BUT IT GETS WORSE!! It's like a little mini typhoon. We didn't go to work until 4 pm. We called our Zone leaders and other missionaries and they told us there was literally NO storm. Light rain, some wind. That's all. WHAT?!?!? WHY?!?!!?!?!? Anyways. It was a great time to talk about spiritual things and to see how we have both changed and grown in our mission. I learned a lot from her, in spite of the weirdest typhoon meant only for Tayabas.

A member in our ward got married last week... and he asked me if I would sing in their wedding..... Ok so this is actually what happened: Sister Martinez and her companion asked him if there was anything we could to do serve him at their wedding, and he said, "Yeah, could all four of you sing?" and then Sister M said, "Actually, we're not that good. But Sister Seastrand is good! You can ask her." Five seconds later, Sister Rafisura and I come walking down the hall and Ralph yells, "Hey! Sister Seastrand can you sing for us on Saturday?"  

( -_- )  --> my face as I'm contemplating my answer. I'm not one of those that can just whip out a solo or anything, let alone on the spot… It's really true when Pres Uctdorf said in conference that our church is a church of volunteers---sometimes voluntary, and sometimes other people volunteer you-for you. I can now say I have been a victim of that principle of our church. Anyways, all went well. It was wonderful! Despite my nerves. (Nerves mostly because Ralph and Beth know a lot of people. It was no small wedding!)  I sang a mix of Love is Spoken Here and Teach Me to Walk In the Light. It was a good experience to help me share my testimony with so many people in one place. :)

Sister Rafisura and I had an interesting Sunday. NO ONE CAME TO CHURCH. :(   Sad. It gets a little sad/frustrating and stuff when our investigators don't come. I have to say I felt a little bit annoyed and angry even...which hasn't really happened that often in my mission. But we talked about it after and I felt some spark come into my heart that I needed. It was a spark of gratitude. There are a lot of times in our lives when we can humph around at our situation, and times when we can feel angry for things that happen. I learned this week that a grateful heart can help us overcome that anger and to see the BIGGER PICTURE. I know Heavenly Father loves me. He is aware of me and wants to answer my prayers. If we are exactly obedient, we will get exactly what Heavenly Father has in store for us. Every time. Overall, good work this week. We are doing our best but it's time to raise the BAR and rise up to the calling and become chosen servants of God. He loves us so much! I know it's true.

Anyways, that was my week. I can't tell you even how much I love Heavenly Father for what he does for me. I just want you to know that I KNOW Heavenly Father is making a tapestry for us with our plans. He is in the details. It sounds like you all had a great week. It sounds like the funeral was wonderful. I LOVE what you shared with me about Kathleen’s analogy, Mom. It's so very true. In my blessing from the elders the other week, it said I would grow in my desire to do family history work. Maybe that's why I feel the connection with her and felt the loss so deep. Even though she is gone, I feel her. It's so amazing, Mom. Heavenly Father knows our hearts and our righteous desires. I just have to trust Him. Things in our area are great. I am working hard and trying to be obedient.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, MOM & DAD!!!!!!!! I forgot to tell you last week. (Don't worry--I knew it, I just forgot to say it.) :) I love you both so much. What wonderful parents you are and what examples of what a celestial marriage looks like. Thank you for the marriage you have. It's been such an example for me.  And thanks for the advice, Mom. I promise. I'm not worried about ‘life after mission’. I am really enjoying my mission. :) Time is going fast! I am growing and changing, and I love it. I want to serve Heavenly Father the best I can. I'm excited for conference coming up, I definitely have some questions in my mind that I am pondering. I hope to receive revelation through my efforts from my prayers, fasting, and pondering.

I hope you all have a great week at work and school. I hope you know I love and think of you always. And NO the leaves don't change color in the Philippines, unfortunately! :( But take pictures for me if you can. The weather here is fine, but I think the rain is coming soon. I love you all SO MUCH!!!! Talk to you next week. Here are my hugs and kisses :)

xoxo,

Sister Seastrand

Week 49

Grandpa Norm: Happy happy birthday to you!! I miss you and think of you ALWAYS. I hope you are well and enjoy your special day. I love you so much, Grandpa Norm. Thank you for your example to me and for loving us grand kids. You're amazing!!!! I hope you enjoy my letter to you and Grandma coming soon in the mail. I LOVE YOU!

Stake Conference!!! Wow that sounds amazing. If you can get any of the talks I would really really like to read those! I loved what you said about the trees... I just taught a lesson this week about trees and faith so that's funny haha :) I love that analogy they used. It's so true. We have to sink our roots deep into the Gospel. Also, about the receiving answers to prayers thing you learned in stake conference-- that was also something I was feeling--a non-answer. I've been praying about school and work and other sorts of things, but I'm not feeling an answer for any of it. I've come to the conclusion that God trusts me to just make the choice.

So this week I was feeling a little bit anxious about Carolyn's death. I just felt this heavy weight of not being able to be at the funeral and with the family, so I got a blessing from my district leader and the blessing was really sweet. It said that my desire to do family history would grow. It also talked about even though the trials I will face and that come to me here in my mission may seem scary, I will know that I am never alone. Anyways, a really great comfort for me-- the Priesthood. What a blessing to us all. (Thanks Dad and Bry and Jake and Grandpa Norm and Grandpa Seastrand!) 

THIS WEEK in the great giant city of Candelaria: Mostly, I’m still new. I’m just trying to get a feel for the area, with all the far away barangays, etc. Probably one of my favorite experiences (next to training Sister Ricketts) here in my mission happened this week. This is WHY I’m a missionary. We have an investigator named Jen. She is 20 years old. She has a 4 year old boy and a baby on the way. When I first came to this area, she wasn't as serious about our message, and actually really silly and giddy. But Tuesday, we taught her the restoration and the Spirit was super strong. I could tell she was getting more serious. Then on Thursday, we came back and felt like we should teach about faith and the real definition of faith. We used Alma 32 and the Spirit completely washed over me as I watched her read about faith. We watched as the Spirit began to enlighten her understanding and her face was so light. I felt the light get brighter as I testified of faith and drew pictures of seeds and trees and primary tactics on my planner to help her understand better. The Spirit was the KEY in that lesson. Sister Rafisura and I talked about it after as we walked how much she is changing. I literally can see it. It's a tangible feeling that I LOVE. She's becoming more confident in us and we're feeling the trust start to come for her to really open up to us about her feelings. I can't even express how much I love her and LOVE seeing the SPIRIT work on people. I could have had 4 bad days in a row and that experience would make it all worth it. I'm a missionary for Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World. If I am faithful and obedient, I will be His servant with the Spirit. My calling is greater than anything I could ever do, or be.

This week, I can't explain it. I just feel a big change that's coming over me in so many ways that I have been praying for for so long now and I feel so grateful to Heavenly Father. I feel Him helping me change…the changes that I need to make to fulfill my purpose.

As far as the ward goes, we have a new bishop here who really needs our help. We're still building trust with members. I can feel their trust in me that they didn't have before with the past sisters here. I feel a big responsibility to share the love that I've been born with, with these members. Heavenly Father needed me here for the one thing I'm good for that I think I possess: Charity. I think that’s why Heavenly Father wants me here. This week was good, everything is still new. It's a big area so I'm literally exhausted every day just walking and teaching. But the work is progressing. I love building up the kingdom here in this ward. I love them!

We contacted a referral from the office who lived in the FURTHEST barangay in the entire area. She rejected us, but I felt the Lord was satisfied with my effort in all our walking and asking people if they knew her. It taught me obedience. The Lord wants us to be happy, and we will be if we are obedient to him. I know that If we obey him, we will be blessed in all things temporal and spiritual.

How grateful I am to be a missionary of the Lord, Jesus Christ. I don't want to LEAVE! Work, work, work--that is the secret, The San Pablo Mission is the best! :) wala ng iba! I love you all so much, and thanks for everything. Literally I couldn't do this without you. You're the BEST. I hope you have a great week. :)  LOVE YOU SO MUCH! 

xoxo,

Sister Seastrand

Week 48

Sorry about my email last week, I feel like I didn't share any details with you. I felt so bad all week! SO. Like I said... this area is SO HUGE. Every day we take tricycles everywhere because everyone lives so far away. It's a nice little city. The road to our chapel reminds me of older parts of Provo or Salt Lake City, because they have these beautiful big trees lining the big streets. I'm not so sure how we're going to find everyone that we need to find in this big area! So far, I'm loving it, though. It's wonderful :) It's been really rainy, but the nice thing is that the water is cleaner and it doesn't flood in Quezon :) yay!  That's nice, isn't it? 

The SKATE is the best thing ever.... And they have a little lever on the side in the back so the driver just pushes it to move it forward with the motor. They don't connect to each other, but it's so funny because when one is coming from the other direction they literally TAKE IT OFF of the rails and set it to the side while we come through, hahah! Funny huh? We ride it a lot because we are teaching a lot of people in this barangay called Malabanban Sur.  I love the Skate! I want to ride it all day long :) It's like a little ride at lagoon.

As far as my companion, Sister Rafisura, I love her a lot! She's SO FUNNY [like me :) haha--just kidding]. She's a private person, but she expressed to me how grateful she feels to be learning. She had a rough time this past 3 months, so I'm really excited to be helping her. I can see her confidence growing. When I came to the area, I realized how much work there is to be done here. Right now we're trying to find new investigators through member referrals, because the current investigators are not progressing at all. It's a bit of a stress, but I'm ready and willing to work and find and do all the Lord wants me to do. 

So my house mates are great, too. Sister Martinez (from my batch from the MTC) and Sister Kelleher (from Australia). I love them both so much! And I love being with them. I can feel the unity and love that is so comforting as we all try to do our work.

So, This week: We had a wonderful fast and testimony meeting. I was fasting this week for my mission and for my family. Also to know what some ideas for my after mission life. I really loved the main theme of the meeting which was 'When you understand the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we will be changed forever.' I loved the spirit of the meeting as I sat and pondered on the gospel in my life and how I can improve and change.

We had a LIFE CHANGING mission tour this week in San Pablo with Elder Bowen from the 70. He is AMAZING. His main theme to us as missionaries was "Remembering who you are" and then, "when you know who you are, you will act differently."  He spoke on different topics such as: The Abrahamic Covenant, the baptismal covenant, the house of Israel, and the covenant of the priesthood. Suddenly in that meeting everything just all made sense about each of those covenants and how they are all connected. I loved it so much. I'm a sucker for talking about divine nature. I think that's why I love President Uchtdorf so much- he always reminds us of who we are. ANYWAYS literally I walked out of the church building feeling like a different person. I think that will always be a memorable experience for me. Because when you know who you are, you really do act differently. Something I learned this week: We don't realize how much power God has given to us through Priesthood and Agency. Agency helps us to choose either right or wrong, and learn and become like God. We can use our agency to ASK God for help, or rely on our own wisdom. 

The Ward here is so kind. I've been so grateful for the help of the members. We just need to help them help us to find new investigators.

Overall, things are pretty good. I'm sorry there's not much to report on the success of investigators. We're workin on it!  :) 

I have to admit, I'm a bit jealous of the weather that is coming your way... I love the Fall time of year. But I know when I return, we can all enjoy the cold together while I reminisce on the hot weather here! Time is going by fast. I can't believe it's almost time for Conference again... and then we have Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Years, ...and then Sister Seastrand is home! Wow... I don't know how to even feel about time anymore.  Mom, I like what you shared with me about the experiences and trials that your RS sister shared as she accepted the Gospel and became a new member... Don't feel like you don't have it as hard as her though. We all have our own trials that are tailored for us. I have a strong testimony of that.  :)  And trust me, just because you were born into the gospel doesn't mean you don't deserve the blessings, it just means that you have an opportunity to lift those to that same level of blessings that we enjoy because of being born of the covenant.  :)

Anyways, all is well here in Candelaria. I love my mission and I love my Savior and Heavenly Father. I know I'm here for a reason. "Gird up your loins fresh courage take, our God will never us forsake and soon we'll have this tale to tell, all is well, all is well."  Read one of my fav scriptures ever in the BOM in Hel 3 verses 33-35. It's about the Nephites in their afflictions and what they did to overcome their trials. Please ponder it . :) I promise you will love it like I do. I love you all. Thanks for everything. Thank you for your testimonies. It strengthens and helps me. Good luck at school and work and let me know about the family and the block! LOVE YOU! Talk to you next week!  :)

xoxo,

Sister Seastrand

Week 47

An example of a 'Skate'

Drum roll please...I'm now in my 3rd area,  Candelaria 1a. :) I'm not sure why I'm always in the areas with a "1a" on the end. So, this area is HUGE. Literally it's overwhelming. It's also one of the harder areas in the mission I've heard. But I LOVE IT. It's the bomb. It's like Vernal and St. George, mixed. They have a petrol station and they have this thing called a "skate" which is like a little mini train that looks like a house on wheels. It's so fast and fun. It takes us into town and out of town. I LOVE IT. My new companion is Sister Rafisura :) Filipina, from the same place as Sister Dadivas. 28 years old. She is super cute. Basically I'm her follow-up trainer. I love it...It's taking me back to my training days with Sister Ricketts. SPEAKING OF WHICH...I am now in the same zone as her!!!! :) I'm so happy. ALSO Sister Pruden is in this area... Remember Megan? yeah cool, huh?!

Our apartment is a house. The washing room for our clothes is in our CR but it's super big. Its got marble and stuff. It's a little old, but it's not bad. It has a tiny front yard. It's cute :)

Zone P-Day

So this week: We had a little FHE with some of the members and our ward mission leader and Alex. This gave us a chance to say goodbye to Alex (our newest member--last week's baptism). We all played some games and such and took pictures. It was nice. I told him to facebook me after the mission. I know he will continue on doing great things. 

Anyways, not much happened, other than getting settled in the new area. This week has been a tiring one, but I'm glad to finally be here. We took a nice big bus to our area. Of course, it POURED rain like it does every transfer day. I bore my testimony in straight tagalog in church. The ward is huge here and SO NICE. I love it so much. I'm already so excited to work in this area. I'm excited to be with my new companion. She's great. And this ward is a great ward. It's like little tender mercies everywhere! I love it. I'm so grateful to be a missionary. I'm so grateful for the Book of Mormon.

Anyways... not much to report other than that. :) Sorry this is so short! I will write more next week. I'm glad to be with Sister Rafisura in my new area.  It's going to be a great time :) Have a good week!! LOVE YOU!

xoxo,

Sister Seastrand

Week 46

This week has been great. It sounds good that you're all back in to school and schedules and everything. Thank you SO MUCH for the advice about school and 'life' things for me. I felt very peaceful when reading what you said, Mom, and I agree that I can worry about those things when I get home. I need your advice all the time. Thank you for taking the time to write that to me...here's what's in my mind:  I guess I had a moment of stressing out about 'life after mission', but I realize that I only have 6 months left here in my mission. I NEED to give it my best every day. I'm not perfect, but I want to serve with all my heart, might, mind, and strength - no matter what. As far as school, I really don't have any feelings about where to go and I'm definitely needing to find a job after to save money. I know I will need that time to come down from my spiritual high. I'm expecting to experience some after-mission blues, because I love my mission and what I'm learning here. I don't want to leave! Anyways: I think so far my plan right now is to live at home with my two wonderful parents for a couple months, figure out a car and a job. That's all and that feels better. :)  Enough about those things, I had a blessing that told me I will be able to receive revelation for myself. So I'm doing alright.  :) 

This week.....

About Willmar, we visited him this last week and got to talk to him about what happened. He is so sad, but he told us he will never forget what we taught him and we challenged him to continue reading the Book of Mormon. He's so great! Even though I'm sad, I know that it's not his time. Someday, he will be baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. I know it. :)

On Saturday we had a baptism! Alexander! YAY!!!! :) He is 19 years old. And he's definitely why I've been in this area for 6 months. He had a wonderful service and I'm so grateful for him and his strong desire to serve God and Jesus Christ.  Next Sunday he will be ordained in the Aaronic Priesthood! He is wonderful. I think he will serve a mission, too. I wish I could come back when he goes in the temple. That would be cool to see. Anyways...Great experience this week :) 

I had the chance to have exchanges with Sister Burt on Friday before our baptism (my companion from the MTC). It was SO great!! It's so fun to see our growth as missionaries, and to talk about life, our missions, and reminisce about the MTC. We both have changed and grown a lot. I got to tell her about some of my spiritual experiences here in my mission, and she got to help me in my teaching. She's awesome! I love her a lot  :)

Exchanges with Sister Burt!

OKAY so big news: It's transfer week this week.... AH! I know I'm transferred... mostly because I've been here 6 months. It feels weird, but at the same time I know it's time to move on. I have to admit I'm a little bit tired in this area. It's been a difficult one as far as Member Missionary Work. BUT how can I forget the feelings I had first coming here, feeling the weight of being a trainer being lifted off my shoulders.  Or meeting Willmar, my spirit friend from the pre-existence? Or coming at the time of Alex's time to enter the covenant of baptism? Or loving the sunsets and rain, my apartment, my companions. There's been some really hard times here and some really spiritual experiences. As I sat at my study desk last night, I just reminisced about this area. The feeling of joy just swept over me and I remembered all the sweet experiences I have had here, and all the times Heavenly Father has shown mercy to me and given me things I really needed and prayed and fasted for. I will always love Santa Cruz, 1a :) BUT it's onto new things, new experiences, and more growing. 

By the way, my camera's been acting up lately. I'm getting a little nervous because I need to take pictures!!! I will update you on that next week what I will do. I think my memory card has a virus but I'm not sure.

That's been my week! It's been a nice one. Thank you so much for your support. Thank you so much!!! Have a great week at school and work, waking up early, and just remember that your daughter/sister/grand daughter all the way in the Philippines loves you all so much. :) I'm happy and I'm doing fine. :) Talk to you next week!!!!

xoxo,

Sister Seastrand

Week 45

One year now! :) Wow! I made it that far. But I have 6 months more to run. I have so much to be grateful for and much more for me to do and become. I love my time here... I think I will be transferred soon. I can feel it coming up. I feel like it's time. So a couple more weeks and I will probably be in a new area. I'm not sure what will happen to me but I have faith that the Lord has a plan for me here.

Our 5 days of isolation was honestly a great break, and so needed. But at the same time, it did affect us getting back to the work. We felt a little weird at church because we felt like we missed out on a lot that happened--even tho we hadn't really missed anything. We're just not used to that kind of down time. Anyways, it's great to be back into the normal schedule. I know exactly what you mean with what you said about the blessings...We're blessed when we don't even know we are. I guess I must be philosophical, too, then. Another thing I always wonder is if I will miss out on blessings I could have received. But the thing is, the only way for that to happen is if we are not obedient to the commandments of God.

THE VAN!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOOOOO!! Just kidding. My parents got rid of the family van! It's OK--- I'm glad if it can bless another family! :) I am like dad, very sentimental. There are a lot of memories in that car. I'll miss the air con, and the nice CD player -- I used that a lot. Also the many trips and such we had in it. Lots of good memories. But I will mostly never forget driving it to all my jobs hahaha....

I'm glad the temple was a nice experience. I miss it a lot. One thing I'm looking forward to is going with you and dad when I get home. That will be a nice thing for me. 

So now that I am one year in the mission, I've been feeling a little bit anxious about my plan after. I am still focused here and want to be as focused as I can and give it my all till the end, but I also want to start making a plan for myself. I've heard of some sister missionaries in my mission doing that when they hit their one year, they start making plans, and I got thinking that I would need to be applying for school in the next few months if I want to be ready? I'm not sure... honestly, I feel the time is not yet for me to worry, but I have to admit lately I am starting to feel the need to worry a little bit more than I had before about myself after my mission... I am so glad you and dad will be there to help me and adjust because I know I will have a hard time... I can feel it. Anyways, it's just been on my mind. I really have no idea what to do, but I have faith in the Lord that if I am faithful in giving my all, He will help me in the next part of the plan.

SO... this week.

We taught Primary!!! It was so fun :) I loved it. We taught the 4-7 year olds. Their cute little faces watching me speak tagalog to them was so great. We taught "I can be Kind to Others" and had them sing and write on paper. I loved it!!! It was great to teach such a simple lesson on kindness.

Speaking of that.... We have some new investigators: the Jose family! It's so great to teach and ENTIRE family. Ah that's the best, since our message is about families being together forever. I would love a completed family. 

News on our great friend and investigator: 

His girlfriend doesn't want us to come back to teach him. She kept making loud noise during our lesson, and trying to distract us. She thinks it's a waste of time, and on our way out the door she says, "Don't come back here anymore. I don't like it." In a very, very raised voice... Sister Dadivas, me, and a relief society counselor are standing there stiff... we literally don't know what to say and we literally can't move. We don't say anything, and just leave. As I turn to close the door behind me, she takes it and slams it shut. TALK ABOUT REJECTION! Honestly, I'm super sad. I can't express how much I really grew to love this great person and how strongly I felt the spirit in every lesson, how happy I was to see him every Saturday and Sunday, and the possibility of reactivation with his girlfriend.  :(  wah. I'm so sad. 

Along with that sad experience, we had a trying experience with Alex. He's been having some trials in preparation for his baptism and a thought came to me yesterday at a scripture, one of my favorites from my mission: Helaman 5:12. I remember one lesson I felt the prompting very strongly to share this scripture. At first it was a little weird because it wasn't really on topic at all, but I felt the spirit and followed it. Since that first lesson, I've shared it in a couple other lessons just to remind him of it and all of a sudden it all made sense to me. The Lord had me share that because He KNEW the trials that Alex would be facing in preparation for his baptism. The trials he is experiencing are very difficult. But I have a feeling that he will reflect on those words in Helaman 5:12.

LESSON?

Follow the spirit, especially when you feel it strongly even if you feel nervous to share it. One of my favorite quotes by President Thomas S. Monson says, "I always want the Lord to know that if He ever needs and errand run, Tom Monson will run that errand for Him." I love that!!! I reflect on that a lot lately and think to myself, how can I do what President Monson does and be an 'errand runner' for the Lord. I know that I've had experiences in doing so here in my mission, and I'm thankful for those chances.

As I reflect on my year here in the Philippines, as a missionary, I am grateful for all the challenges and trials I have faced. Things I never thought I could overcome, I am overcoming, and the person I never thought I could be is becoming part of me. I know the Atonement is real for everything. I feel the Lord's love for me in the smallest of things that happen every day.

Anyways, there's always so much to say and tell. There's always so much I am feeling and I'm hard to writing in my feelings sometimes...... did I really just say 'hard to writing'?!!!!!!!!!! I am FORGETTING ENGLISH! haha What I meant: I am not a very good writer. Sheesh. 

I love you all so much. I'm sure it's hard to get back into work and school, trust me I know how that feels! Just do your best and the blessings are already there. Thanks for all your support in everything. I couldn't do it without you. Heavenly Father knows me and has given me little tender mercies in my day. Even though it's hard I am receiving so many things and little bits of help. I know Heavenly Father is watching me all the time. Have a great week, and let me know about the start of school! :) You can do it!!!!!! Love you. :)

xoxo,

Sister Seastrand

Week 44 - Quarantined!

HELLO! Sorry I wasn't able to email you this last week. Here's what happened:

Last Monday, my housemate Sister Cortes started to get these weird rashes/boils on her body and kept asking us what it was. Of course we have no idea, even after looking at our missionary health booklet. Finally on Saturday she went to the doctor and he told her it was chicken pox for the second time! She then called Sister Mangum.  Sister Mangum called the mission doctor and then she called us while we’re out proselyting and informed us that we needed to go home immediately and stay in our apartment, that we weren't able to leave for 5 DAYS because we had become exposed to Sister Cortes. Since chicken pox is an airborne sickness, we had to be quarantined for those 5 days. Sister Cortes and Sister Aquino stayed at the mission home quarantined, as well. Filipinos are really scared of this illness because a lot of them have died from it--they can't afford to have vaccines for it. :( 

WHAT THE HECK! haha... it was so weird! So no Church on Sunday or P-day on Monday. She told us we could hurry and buy enough food to last us for five days and then just go home. So Sister Dadivas and I went to the market and stayed put for 5 DAYS in our HOUSE! It was really rough at first, but I am so grateful for the time I had! I think Heavenly Father really answers my prayers because I had been praying for a chance to just rest a little after lunch or something because I was tired...I also had fasted that Sunday to continue to be the missionary Heavenly Father needs me to be and even though being at my one year mark, to work harder and be better. And then He answered my prayers a week later by giving me 5 days to rest. Haha! But the sweet thing is he answered my prayers again by giving me to burning desire to be his servant that I maybe had lost for awhile. How grateful I am to my Heavenly Father for that answer I received only one day after I had fasted for it.  

Lesson learned: Watch out for what you think you need/want cause Heavenly Father just might give it to you and teach you a lesson/chastening and then give you another blessing to let you know he still loves you! haha especially having a chance to see maybe what my life will be like when I come home... BORING! 

So I got to study PMG and the Bible and the Book of Mormon and watch church videos...  So that's my week. :) It was kind of rough not being able to teach though, especially because we have Alex our investigator preparing for baptism and we needed to move his date since we couldn't finish his lessons in time... At first I felt a little frustrated at this but that quickly went away and I felt so grateful for the time I had to study and wash my clothes and study again. Sister Mangum is so sweet and kept texting us everyday and called us a few times to see if we were doing alright, or still alive at least, haha. She's the best. We were able to go back out to work again this last Friday. That was a bit rough too because we had missed out on the labors in the vineyard for a whole week... That Friday when we rode our tricycle to our first appointment I was reminded of that feeling was like when I was a brand new missionary again, just arrived in the Philippines, and didn't know anything! 

Sister Marsha came to church this Sunday!! YAY!! Finally after like a month of invites she came. And when we went to go get her, we walked all the way to church through the busy market. I just loved it. I was so glad that she came and loved her first experience at church! 

Other than that, that's been my life for the past while. It sounds like the family is doing well! Especially a BIG thanks to the grandparents. I know that I don't always write them but I will write a letter this week and send it in the post next Monday. Tell them thank you so much for thinking and praying for me. I can feel them. :) I'm glad you’re all getting back into school and things. I'm a lot like you, Mom - I love schedule! But I don’t miss school one bit! Anyways, I'm happy and healthy and still alive don't worry! I'm so glad to be here and love being on the Lord's errand. I am so glad I've been a missionary for one year this Thursday!! Yay! I will let you know how that day goes next week. I'm super excited for it. :) But I’m even more excited to be a missionary for 6 more months. I want to do my best and give it my all. I'm grateful for Heavenly Father and his mindfulness of me. I know he knows me and loves me. I love my trials. I love learning to be patient. There's a great quote that I read this last week that says: "Consecrated sacrifice is the only sacrifice in which there is a victory." I really love it. I love it so much I put it on my study wall. That’s my scripture for you! Anyways, it's good to hear summer is over and starting back into school. I love you all so much!!! Have a great week again :) 

xoxo,
Sister Seastrand

The Santa Cruz Zone - Best Zone Ever!